Oh yes, here we go again. Like a bad dream over and over again, the Sixers got manhandled in Detroit and I shouldn't even be surprised. It's starting to feel like the Sixers are stuck in the Miami Heat/Boston Celtics early 2010's era of thinking about how a team should be constructed but, it feels like the NBA has gotten way too competitive since that time period. The talent is everywhere these days. Not only that though, the play style has changed drastically in the past decade thanks to the Steph Curry effect and soft NBA rules. Nobody is allowed to play defense these days. Basketball was never a rough, actual contact sport, but it was, kinda. If you watch basketball from the 90's to today it doesn't even feel like the same sport. The softness is out of this world and can even be seen in football.
I absolutely think it's time for the three point line to be moved back and perhaps let the players actually play basketball? I don't know maybe it's just me. Basketball's rules have always seemed vague and strange.
Anyway though yeah, the Sixers just got destroyed Friday in every sense of the sport. They were down thirty the majority of the game.
Joel Embiid really had the audacity to try to confront Kelly Oubre Jr. about a lack of effort for a play when in that instance Embiid was just as much to blame. ALSO in general Embiid barely tries in terms of actual hustle any time, ever. For him to critique anyone's effort ever is just ludicrious. Embiid is one of the softest, un-Philly like athletes ever and I'm kinda over it. Oubre Jr. is one of my favorite Sixers and he jawed at Embiid with zero fear and was right in his face. That was great to see.
Oubre Jr. who is shorter AND lighter than Embiid by noticeable, considerable margins, outrebounded Embiid by four. Sure Oubre Jr. played more minutes but that's not a massive excuse to me. If anything it just makes Embiid look softer. I couldn't care less about load management anymore bro. It's just annoying.
If Embiid proves me wrong and helps the Sixers turnaround I'll happily be wrong and look stupid. But as of this moment, I really doubt I will be proved wrong.
The Sixers might not want to abandon Embiid but, even though his contract is insane they should just do their best to not take Embiid seriously anymore and just treat him as another player the best they can, and entertain trading him.
Paul George is not doing much better but, the Sixers have practically a decade of this Embiid stuff and Embiid was supposed to be the anchor.
In the big picture, on a positive note, it is a fun big day in American sports. Sixers have a unique afternoon game in Milwaukee which is fun, and the SUPER BOWL is on tonight!!!
So despite my annoyances, it is a pretty good day.